Photo Credit: Gabriel Inchauspe Training in Timor-Leste
Our Expertise: Information Management Systems & GIS

The Need for Stronger Systems

Estimates show that upwards of USD $2.5 billion annually is spent performing program monitoring and evaluation (M&E). But investments in information management and M&E systems suffer from high levels of inefficiency, ineffectiveness, and redundancy.

Why such a high rate of failure? And how can we ensure that what we learn is not shelved, but rather is used to reshape or inform future decisions?

Building Tools that Track Results

We specialize in developing comprehensive databases for partners with easy-to-use interfaces for internal and external audiences. Through customizable and interactive data portals, DG enables users to quickly get the information they need, in the way they need it, to increase learning and support decision-making.

Beyond Reporting

Finding Balance Between Accountability and Learning

We support decision-makers, researchers, and practitioners with access to more reliable, timely, and usable data. Instead of simply counting inputs and outputs, our systems focus on learning in addition to reporting for accountability.

Creating Systems Together with Users

By creating tools directly with stakeholders, we build dashboards for practical, everyday use. By continuously iterating our working designs based on real user feedback, we create buy-in and tools that respond to proven user needs. Underpinning all components is attention to the human and technical processes and capacities of our partners.

Tools for Decision-Making and SDG Progress

We have a deep background in data for monitoring, evaluation, and learning – particularly how it can be used to inform decision-making. We create platforms and portals that intuitively aggregate data, and that make monitoring and evaluation data accessible, transparent, and dynamic.

Tracking Indicators That Matter

M&E tools are built on indicators – the information that is being measured. The usefulness of an indicator is directly dependent on its quality – timeliness, representativeness, and accuracy. Working with partners, we identify the right indicators and create systems that can track and visualize data, which can feed into project design.

Photo Credit: Sarah Orton-Vipond Georgia

The [UNSDG Information Management System] built by Development Gateway has started a data revolution within our office. It is triggering a redefinition of our added value as a UN unit. Senior management are keen to get the data in the system as it helps them coordinate and prioritize for the new development agenda. We are now able to manage 132 countries worth of data according to our priorities and serving many needs – from performance appraisal, to global reporting, to strategic planning.

Team Leader UNDG
MapAfrica: Interactive Dashboard of the African Development Bank’s Portfolio
MapAfrica: Interactive Dashboard of the African Development Bank’s Portfolio

MapAfrica displays the African Development Bank's full portfolio of work across the continent – developed by DG and launched in 2014 to enable citizens, governments, and donors access to information about AfDB’s investments. Since launch, we've continued to work with AfDB to advance geocoding, created a tool to add country briefs and results stories, and enabled AfDB to sustain the system itself.

2011 - 2019 Build
PREMAND: Preventing Maternal and Neonatal Deaths in Northern Ghana
PREMAND: Preventing Maternal and Neonatal Deaths in Northern Ghana

The PREMAND dashboard highlights interactions of social, cultural, and geographic factors in contributing to maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The flexible tool serves a range of users: from district health policymakers to local community leaders. It translates highly technical research data into an easily-understandable map, to make this information approachable and usable by decision-makers at all levels.

2017 - 2018 Build
UNDG Information Management System
UNDG Information Management System

The UNDG Information Management System (IMS) is a dynamic web application designed to improve coordination and knowledge sharing among the 130+ global country offices, mechanisms, and departments that make up the UN. The IMS allows for the creation of annual work plans, reporting on progress, and collection of a wide range of indicators tied to the Development Cooperation Office (DCO)’s priority workstreams and goals.

2014 - 2021

Read the Latest

Developing Data Systems: Five Issues IREX and DG Explored at Festival de Datos

IREX and Development Gateway: An IREX Venture participated in Festival de Datos from November 7-9, 2023. In this blog, Philip Davidovich, Annie Kilroy, Josh Powell, and Tom Orrell explore five key issues discussed at Festival de Datos on advancing data systems and how IREX and DG are meeting these challenges.

January 17, 2024 Data Management Systems and MEL
Understanding How DFID Makes Decisions – Landscape Report on the Role of Data

The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and Development Gateway (DG) are pleased to release a new report entitled “Decision-Making and Data Use Landscaping: Better Data, Better Decisions - May 2017 to October 2018.” This work examines the role that data plays in supporting key decisions taken by DFID at the strategy, portfolio (sector or country), and programme level. Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through DG’s Results Data Initiative, the report synthesises in-depth interviews with approximately 60 DFID staff across four country offices, all sector teams, and senior management. 

March 25, 2019 Data Management Systems and MEL, Global Data Policy
The Common Denominators of Administrative Data and Official Statistics

What does “fit-for-purpose” data actually mean? It depends: on who you ask, and what decision is at stake. For governments and development partners – particularly those who rely on data from country systems for program planning and management – much frustration came from perceived redundancies in statistical and administrative data systems. 

February 26, 2019 Data Management Systems and MEL